Canadian Live Music Association

What Canadian Live Music Association does

The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is a national, member-based, not-for-profit trade association incorporated on November 7, 2014 (originally as Music Canada Live, rebranded in 2019) and headquartered in Ottawa at 450 Churchill Ave. North. It serves as the unified advocacy, research, and convening body for Canada's live music ecosystem, with members spanning independent venues and clubs (e.g., Horseshoe Tavern, Biltmore Theatre, Silver Dollar Room, Rickshaw Theatre), festivals (Folk On The Rocks), music incubators (Canada's Music Incubator), cultural centres, concert promoters, talent agents, and touring professionals. Its core 'product' is not a platform but a portfolio of programs and services: federal and provincial government advocacy; original research including the first-ever 'Hear and Now' national economic impact study; the annual Live Music Awards; the RBC-sponsored 'Setting the Stage' micro-grant program for emerging artist mentorship; the Climate Contingency Roadmap initiative; member benefits including an insurance program; and campaigns such as #CanadaIsLiveMusic. Revenue flows through annual membership dues (pricing not publicly disclosed; fee structure updated January 1, 2024) supplemented by corporate sponsorships (notably RBC) and grants from government arts and music-fund agencies including Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Creates, Creative BC, FACTOR, and Musicaction. Distribution is domestic, direct-to-member via the canadianlivemusic.ca website and member portal, with annual events (Live Music Awards, AGM) as in-person engagement touchpoints. There is no technology platform, API, SDK, or proprietary software stack disclosed; CLMA operates as an advocacy-and-programs trade body rather than a software product company.

Name

Canadian Live Music Association

Legal name

Canadian Live Music Association

Website

https://canadianlivemusic.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is a national not-for-profit trade association headquartered in Ottawa that advocates for, researches, and convenes Canada's live music industry across venues, festivals, promoters, agents, and touring professionals, delivering programs including the Hear and Now economic study, RBC's Setting the Stage grants, and the Live Music Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association / Live Music Advocacy

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Live Event Marketing, Sponsorship & Brand Partnerships (MPAIAFAI)

Keywords

• Live music industry
• Trade association
• Music industry advocacy
• Industry membership services
• Live music research

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from live music industry organizations including venues, clubs, promoters, festivals, and related businesses. The association offers membership with voting privileges and access to member benefits.
2. Sponsorships and Program Support: Corporate sponsorships and program funding from partners such as RBC for the Setting the Stage grant program, and support from government arts councils for research initiatives.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Canadian Live Music Association is a national, member-based, not-for-profit trade association that provides advocacy, research, and member services for Canada's live music industry. It represents venues, clubs, promoters, festivals, agents, and touring professionals through policy advocacy at federal and provincial levels, economic impact research (Hear and Now study), the annual Live Music Awards, the RBC-sponsored Setting the Stage grant program, the Climate Contingency Roadmap, an Insurance Program, and broader member benefits.

Product overview

The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is a national member-based not-for-profit trade association representing Canada's live music industry. Rather than a unified technology platform, CLMA offers a portfolio of programs and services including: advocacy initiatives and policy work at federal and provincial levels; research and economic impact studies (Hear and Now); the annual Live Music Awards ceremony; the RBC-sponsored Setting the Stage grant program for emerging artists; the Climate Contingency Roadmap initiative; and member benefits including an insurance program. CLMA serves as the unified national voice for venues, clubs, promoters, festivals, agents, and touring professionals across Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Live Music Awards: National awards program celebrating Canada's live music industry, presented in partnership with Departure
• Setting the Stage
• Hear and Now
• Climate Contingency Roadmap
• Live U
• Sustainable Live

Products and services

• CLMA Membership Annual membership program for venues, clubs, promoters, festivals, agents, touring professionals, and suppliers in Canada's live music industry, offering voting privileges and access to member benefits, advocacy, and resources.
• Live Music Awards National awards ceremony celebrating excellence across Canada's live music ecosystem, presented in partnership with Departure, recognizing achievements in touring, production, venues, promoters, and service providers.
• Setting the Stage Grant Program RBC-sponsored micro-grant program that provides grants to independent CLMA-member venues, festivals, and promoters to deliver career mentorship and live performance opportunities for local emerging artists.
• Hear and Now Economic Impact Study National economic impact study quantifying Canada's live music industry contribution, including $10.92 billion GDP contribution, 101,604 jobs supported, and $3.73 billion in tax revenues.
• Climate Contingency Roadmap Sector-specific suite of tools to help live music operators anticipate, plan for, and respond to climate disruptions, including preparedness and site selection tools, insurance backgrounders, and emergency services primers.
• CLMA Insurance Program Insurance program offering coverage options for CLMA member organizations in the live music sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• $10.92 billion contribution to GDP from live music industry
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DeparturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Multi-year partnership to present the Live Music Awards, creating a national platform to celebrate Canada's live music industry. The awards ceremony takes place at the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto as part of Departure's programming. This partnership elevates the profile of Canada's live music industry and recognizes excellence across the sector.
• NordicitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic, policy, and economic analysis firm that led the Hear and Now economic impact study for CLMA. Nordicity provided the research methodology and analysis that established benchmark data for Canada's live music industry.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Association of Independent Music (A2IM): US trade association representing independent recorded music labels with adjacent live music policy interests. Comparable as a member-driven policy and advocacy organization in the broader music industry.
• Association of Independent Music (AIM): UK trade association for independent music companies, including live/touring operators. Comparable as a member-based music industry body with policy, awards, and member services.
• Music Canada: Canadian music industry trade association with adjacent policy, research, and advocacy mandates. Closely comparable as a Canadian non-profit trade body serving overlapping music industry stakeholders.

Others

• Nordicity: Strategic and economic research firm that produced the Hear and Now study for CLMA. Comparable as a sector research provider and ecosystem enabler for live music industry policy work.
• Future of Music Coalition: US non-profit that advocates for musicians and music industry workers on policy issues including live music. Comparable as a policy and research-focused music advocacy non-profit.

Direct peers

• Music Business Association (Music Biz): US-based trade organization for the music industry, focused on commerce, policy, and community across recorded and live music. Comparable as a membership trade association running policy advocacy, awards, and research programs.
• National Independent Venue Association (NIVA): US-based national trade association representing independent music venues and promoters. Closely comparable as a membership-based advocacy body focused specifically on the live music ecosystem, with analogous grant and policy work.
• UK Music: UK umbrella trade association representing the commercial music industry including live performance. Comparable as a national advocacy body producing economic impact reports and policy submissions on behalf of the live music sector.
• Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA): Canadian trade association for the independent music sector with overlapping membership of venues, promoters, and festivals. Directly comparable as a Canadian member-based advocacy organization serving adjacent parts of the live music value chain.

Regional players

• Live Performance Australia: Australian peak industry body for the live performance sector. Comparable as a national trade association representing venues, promoters, and producers outside Canada, with analogous awards and policy functions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Live Music Association